My girlfriend and I are looking at buying a camper van as we really enjoy camping and if we get a camper we can go away all year on short breaks.

The problem is neither of us know much about camper vans so I was hoping that people could give me advice on what sort of things to look for.

It would only be for the two of us but we do have two large dogs (gsd and lab) who go away with us. We're not interested in the camper having things like a toilet as the places we normally go have these facilities.

I have seen several converted sprinter and transit vans but I'm not sure how reliable etc these vehicles are?

Any advice would be greatly received.

Thanks

It all comes down to how much kit and space you want and what your budget is?

 

Is it a campervan you want or would you consider a motor home?

 

Phil

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T25-MYSTERY-MACHINE-CAMPER-VAN-/371110101324?

 

My auntie and uncle are selling theres if your interested, don't make the same mistake as i did and show your missus! mine want's me to buy it and now she's not speaking to me! lol

It all comes down to how much kit and space you want and what your budget is?

Is it a campervan you want or would you consider a motor home?

Phil

Hi thanks we're looking at spending around the £10000 mark and the main requirement is space for the two of us and the dogs.

We're flexible on what type of vehicle as long as it suits our needs.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-T25-MYSTERY-MACHINE-CAMPER-VAN-/371110101324?

My auntie and uncle are selling theres if your interested, don't make the same mistake as i did and show your missus! mine want's me to buy it and now she's not speaking to me! lol

Thanks! I like the look of that but I think it might be a bit small for us and the dogs!

Are you after something ready to use, or are you willing and able to do conversion work yourself?
Do you want a VW or something else? You'll pay more for an equivalent age and size of VW, but it will hold it's value better when you come to se..

 don't make the same mistake as i did and show your missus! mine want's me to buy it and now she's not speaking to me! lol

 

 

Result, can't wait to show this to my wife    

Result, can't wait to show this to my wife    

lol, did you read the description on it, as you can tell, he has a brilliant sense of humor! he's trying to push me into buying it too, but i have enough cars as it is!  it's a shame they have to sell it, but my uncle is getting too old to keep lifting his wheelchair bound wife in and out. pretty sure i have an Escort chairman in one of the sheds, might see if he will knock a grand off the price if i give him the ford! lol

Thanks! I like the look of that but I think it might be a bit small for us and the dogs!

no problem, it's quite big! the 2 of them go camping with their dog alot, it's a real head turner tho!  lol

Are you after something ready to use, or are you willing and able to do conversion work yourself?

Do you want a VW or something else? You'll pay more for an equivalent age and size of VW, but it will hold it's value better when you come to se..

I'm fairly flexible to be honest. I'm quite happy to do a lot of the work myself but I wouldn't be confident doing the electric's or gas etc.

What you truly need to consider is what you want. If you're able a Nd willing to spend big year in, year out then classic camper. If you can't commit to that sort of expenditure then go for something modern. There's a lot of scamming going on with vw camper vans at the minute too- if you get someone asking cash up front without viewing walk away.

Personally if you go for the standard vw camper sized van it'll be too small for you and the dogs. Why not get a caravan and tow instead?

Why not get a caravan and tow instead?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can recommend one of these. Significantly cheaper, modular interior can suit all and no need to pay extra tax/ insurance/ MOT. And you don't have to ruin everyone else's journey whilst the Highways Agency pick bits of your caravan up in lane 1. 

Edited 29 July, 201411 yr by sparks03

A couple of www for VW t25's - Samba and club 80/90.

They are a bit old now and can be seriously rotty.

The newer T4/5's when converted well can be a bit spendy.

You could just get a normal van and sling some hammocks.

If you want more ideas on conversions have a peek at ADV forums (http://advrider.com/forums/index.php), Fluff, Shiny Things, Building an Adventure Van. There are several other threads in Vans! also found in ADV. Don't get lost now.

231 pages of how to turn a Sprinter into a multi role toy. Not how I'd do it BTW.

One of the VW/westphalia geeks stumbled across 2ft cube sized all in one kitchen from a japanese 4x4 which would sort out having to plumb gas and water. He excised his existing kitchen he was so impressed.

I have seen several converted sprinter and transit vans but I'm not sure how reliable etc these vehicles are?

Any advice would be greatly received.

Thanks

I'd shy clear of any Transit version purely on fuel - Transit LWB/Hi top would make an excellent starter, but economy . Transits don't just guzzle fuel , they are the van version of alcoholics.Something that might convert easily is a fuel friendly Clarke conversion ( designed as a welfare unit for remote works  ) and if similar to the transit version came with microwave and hot water boiler, with seating for five in the rear( two bench seats) ,with a  seperate rear compartment . Rear half had windows and a seperate heating system . Same width as Transit- ?? if so I often kiped in the front seats of my works Transit in comfort( i'm 5'6") , so I'd imagine in rear there's plenty of room for bed conversion( or hammocks). Just an idea .,but I'd be looking at the LWB/Hi top versions.

Edited 29 July, 201411 yr by VWD

Personally if you go for the standard vw camper sized van it'll be too small for you and the dogs. Why not get a caravan and tow instead?

I think your right about the size I think we need something a bit bigger than standard. I did think about a caravan but I think a van will suit our needs a bit better at the moment.

I'd shy clear of any Transit version purely on fuel - Transit LWB/Hi top would make an excellent starter, but economy . Transits don't just guzzle fuel , they are the van version of alcoholics.Something that might convert easily is a fuel friendly Clarke conversion ( designed as a welfare unit for remote works  ) and if similar to the transit version came with microwave and hot water boiler, with seating for five in the rear( two bench seats) ,with a  seperate rear compartment . Rear half had windows and a seperate heating system . Same width as Transit- ?? if so I often kiped in the front seats of my works Transit in comfort( i'm 5'6") , so I'd imagine in rear there's plenty of room for bed conversion( or hammocks). Just an idea .,but I'd be looking at the LWB/Hi top versions.

That's great thank you.

My dad had a trailer tent which was brilliant and didn't cost the earth.

Have a look at www.vwt4forum.co.uk

Sent from my TegraNote-P1640 using Tapatalk

I'm still converting my Citroen Relay (progress has been slowed by some recent illness).

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/288694-project-camper-its-started/

 

Its been a while getting this far because i've done it on a small budget, bit by bit. Still less than £3k inc buying the van.

BossFox minibus and a conversion??? That's what I'll be looking into early next year if he's still selling some!

I think your right about the size I think we need something a bit bigger than standard. I did think about a caravan but I think a van will suit our needs a bit better at the moment.

As you say you'll need something bigger so I'd suggest you look at a few and try and take the dogs to give you some idea what it would be like, especially when parked up with the doors shut so you could see where they would sleep. My parents have had camper vans based on the vw transporter for about 40 years now. They all have had the rear seat folding out to make the double bed, which when down makes things really tight just for 2. They do have the pop up roof that can sleep 2, but its not very practical. I went with them and my sister to Italy in the 80s, they slept in the van and I had my own tent. It really was like a rubics cube inside where one of them couldn't move round without the others moving to so with 2 big dogs it would be near impossible.

I would stick with a VW T4. The size is right, the kit is about right and plenty of room for the dogs. I know, when they are wet there is plenty of room to dry them off inside. For 10k you should be able to get something in fine fettle but still leave some scope for personalisation. Also you can get them with an auto box (although rarer than manual). A lot of campers don't seen to have that option being van conversions.

 

My advise would be see as many as you can. Buy a cheap damp meter to check out the inside for water leaks from old dodgy pipework............and enjoy.

Look more towards a purpose-built camper rather than a van conversion. Seen a few conversion which, after a few years, have rotted to bits around the window seals. 

That's why I mentioned the Welfare unit conversions. The whole rear is done by professionals. And the LWB versions usually have a compartment or solid toilet in the rear.